I really enjoy the months of January and February, especially as the days grow longer. It feels darn good to settle into a less frenetic routine, well past the holiday season. In this quiet time, what is being planned for the next few months can be anticipated with joy, and past events can be recalled in gratitude.

Our January event, “New Year, New Music” at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gig Harbor, was particularly memorable. The Rieger organ, installed with added stops by Martin Pasi, has an interesting back story, with organ builder and instrument following the same path, from State University of New York (Purchase) to St. John’s. Dennis Northway performed original compositions to demonstrate the added stops, and chapter members performed music intended for church use. The variety of music revealed the versatility of the organ, and some very lovely solo stops. Martin shared the organ’s history, his impressions along the journey, and fielded many questions. I was encouraged to see so many of us visiting well into the evening, as newcomers mixed right in during the elegant reception. Our deepest thanks to Dennis, Martin, chapter members who performed, and the hospitality committee at St. John. It was truly a great evening!

Looking ahead, we are excited about our “Young Organists’ Event,” Sunday, February 12, at 12:00pm, at Lagerquist Concert Hall. This full afternoon begins with a demonstration of the Fritts organ by Wyatt Smith, and an opportunity for the young organists to try it out for themselves. Then follows a pizza lunch at Farelli’s, a visit to play the Kilgen & Son organ at Trinity Chapel, and a return to PLU for Dexter Kennedy’s concert at 3:00pm. Interested young organists are encouraged to contact Wyatt Smith smithwd2009@gmail.com. Adults are also welcome to join the pizza lunch, a chance to get to know the young organists.

We also invite you to “Bach Rediscovered,” at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Tacoma, Monday, March 20, at 7:00pm. Organists Cheryl Drewes, Sheila Bristow, Emma Kelly, Dr. Michael Plagerman, and Dr. Wyatt Smith will recreate Mendelssohn’s all-Bach recital performed at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig in 1840. The program includes the Passacaglia, Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, Schmücke dich, and much more!

Cheers,

Cheryl

So where did the year go? It seems to have flown by, further propelled by the Christmas whirlwind, and now it is January 1st. Cheers to all of us as we begin 2023, having made the best of 2022! I hope all of you who found December a crazy time of church services, holiday concerts, and more, are enjoying a well-deserved time of rest and renewal.

On the cusp of this new year, I am so grateful to our board, who have been working diligently to bring wonderful programs that provide points of connection for colleagues and friends, outreach to the general public, and opportunities for learning and enrichment. I encourage you to scroll through the articles on the Tacoma AGO website. In the narrative and pictures, one is reminded of so many years of great concerts, lectures, picnics, organ tours, master classes, and even caroling accompanied by the Marceau positive organ in the Tacoma Mall! The warmth of community and friendship, cultivated over decades, is so palpable in the images, and new members tell me they notice the vibe right away at our gatherings. Encouraged by this culture of support, I look forward to the work of the new year, alongside a very dedicated board, and wish all of us in the Tacoma AGO a Happy New Year!

Looking ahead, we hope you will join us for “New Year, New Music,” at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gig Harbor, Monday, January 16th, at 7:00pm, on the newly expanded 1982 Rieger organ, installed by Martin Pasi. Many of us first heard this instrument in November 2021, before the new stops were added. Now we get to experience the completed disposition at this informal and fun event. We invite you to share favorite organ pieces (or excepts), suitable for preludes and postludes. On our website’s event page, click the link to sign up to play. A reception will follow, graciously hosted by St. John’s.

Finally, please keep your eye on the event calendar and your email for announcements about upcoming programs that are currently under development. As always, if you have suggestions along the way, please let us know – new ideas are always welcome!

Cheers,

Cheryl

Well, here it is, the season of Advent and Christmas – expectation, hope, and joy. In the times that we now live in, the narrative takes on poignant meaning, and permeates ordinary life along with everything else that needs to be accomplished. I inevitably find myself squeezed by extra duties and events that come with the season, but I truly enjoy this journey of anticipation, full of wonder. Mindful that your season may be similarly packed, I still hope that you can make room for our upcoming events, unique opportunities to play two notable instruments.

First is our musical Christmas Party 2022 at PLU’s Lagerquist Hall, Monday, December 19th, at 7:00 pm. You are invited to share a favorite Advent or Christmas piece on the stunning Fritts organ. It has always been my belief that every organist should have the opportunity to encounter magnificent instruments – not just to listen to others perform, but to be given ample time to practice and then play in the company of friends and colleagues. Though the organ’s awesome visual presence might be intimidating, know that the supple action and gorgeous sounds are so inviting, and reassuringly comfortable – one is simply inspired by this gracious giant. As an organist and teacher, I’m thrilled that this organ has been made accessible to all of us. On our website’s event page, click “Christmas Party 2022” and then click the links to sign up to play, and to sign up for practice time – up to two hours available!

Second, we invite you to “New Year, New Music,” at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gig Harbor, Monday, January 16th, at 7:00pm, on the newly expanded 1982 Reiger Orgelblau instrument, installed by Martin Pasi. St. John’s organist, Dr. Dennis Northway, will open the meeting with an introduction to this wonderful organ, which has an intriguing back story. Come to share favorite pieces, or excerpts from pieces, suitable for use as preludes and postludes in the new year. Look forward to hearing a variety of familiar and new works, and take part in the convivial conversation. A reception will follow, graciously hosted by St. John’s. On our website’s event page, click “New Year, New Music” and then click the link to sign up to play.

Cheers,

Cheryl

September was the month of beginnings, October a season of harvest and the spooktacular, and November? A brief pause for reflection and anticipation, with quite a lot to be thankful for, and much to look forward to.

Take our October event, co-sponsored with the Olympia chapter. Fright Night! was an evening of good cheer, music diabolical and silly, classic Buster Keaton, and a splendid reception following. We had a diverse audience of chapter members, church folk, and some from the neighborhood. The youngest was my fourth-grade piano student, who was intently fascinated by Glenn Guhr’s performance of Never More Shall Prayer Ravish These Lips from Howard Hanson’s opera, Merry Mount. As well, a young couple who lives nearby the church, by chance found out there is a real pipe organ in the neighborhood and thus came to our event. What struck me most, though, was the response of the audience to Buster Keaton’s Haunted House. It’s been a long time since I heard such sheer delight – whoops and guffaws as only Buster Keaton can elicit. In today’s world, more than ever, we need such joy in our lives, especially in community. Thank you, fellow performers – Tim, Sheila, Glenn, and Dennis – for giving us all a chance to revel in the night. Thank you, Jan and Sandy, for the gorgeous reception. Thank you, Spanaway Lutheran Church, always the gracious host.

Anticipating what is ahead, we have a variety of compelling opportunities over the next few months: in November, to learn about the unique place that composer Margaret Sandresky holds in the musical world; in December, to play your favorite Advent/Christmas pieces on the marvelous Lagerquist organ; in January to share ideas about preludes and postludes with one another. Here are the details; we hope you can join us!

• Monday, November 14: Celebrating Margaret Sandresky Wesley Home Gardens, Des Moines. Hear about the life and compositions of this fourth-generation female composer, presented by Wyatt Smith. Afterward, enjoy a reception sponsored by the Wesley Foundation.
• Monday, December 19: Christmas Party 2022 Pacific Lutheran University. Share a favorite Advent or Christmas piece on the Lagerquist organ. Christmas refreshments following.
• Monday, January 16: New Year, New Music St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gig Harbor. Bring music to share/demonstrate, with particular emphasis on practical preludes and postludes.

The Toccata and Fugue in D Minor intrigued me from the very beginning, as I think it would any young organist. Best as I can recall, I learned it when in 7th or 8th grade. By that time, I was steeped in theater organs, having tagged along with my dad and the rest of the ATOS crowd as they restored instruments, hosted concerts, and held chapter meetings. These meetings always included open console, where members and their kids would play well into the evening. And so, I did: Maple Leaf Rag, Edelweiss, a few others, and finally – the T&F – all stops on, and all trems off! After all, it was October, with the trees blushing in vivid colors because the New England cold snap kissed them once again. Halloween would soon follow, with bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving, and neighborhood trick-or-treating. The caramel apples sticking to my mittens made for a fuzzy mess, but the rest of the night’s revelry was a wicked good time!

Likewise, we are delighted bring you our joint program with the Olympia chapter, Fright Night! on Monday, October 17th, 7:00pm at Spanaway Lutheran Church. I will be joined by Tim Drewes, Dennis Northway, Sheila Bristow and Glenn Guhr in a spooktacular evening of ghoulish organ music, art songs, pumpkin carols, and the silent movie “Haunted House,” starring Buster Keaton, accompanied at the organ. We hope you can join us in celebration of the organ’s place with all that goes bump in the night!

Note the wonderful line-up of upcoming chapter and community events listed to the right of this column. Looking ahead at chapter meetings:

• Monday, November 14: Celebrating Margaret Sandresky Wesley Home Gardens, Des Moines. Hear about the life and compositions of this fourth-generation female composer, presented by Wyatt Smith.
• Monday, December 19: Christmas Party 2022 Pacific Lutheran University. Share a favorite Advent or Christmas piece on the Lagerquist organ. Christmas refreshments following.
• Monday, January 16: New Year, New Music St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gig Harbor. Bring music to share/demonstrate, with particular emphasis on practical preludes and postludes.

Cheers,

Cheryl